How to Make a Tie

Published: January 30, 2013

Learn how to make a tie for all your little guys! This easy tutorial is awesome and includes a pattern. It also shows you how to make different sizes. With our designer fabric, your boys will look adorable!

I have three boys (and one more on the way), so I’m always looking for good boy crafts. I have made several ties or bow ties for them. Some of then have been good and other ones just okay. My boys like to wear ties, but hate the clip on ones that come with their shirts because they don’t like the top button buttoned and it looks silly when it’s not buttoned up. And they like the ones that you actually tie, but we are always late for church as it is, so tying a tie isn’t ideal, plus they are made for bigger boys.

So I was on a mission to find a good tutorial for ties, and I found this one. It was great, but the pattern is for boys 2-3 years old, so I had to make my own pattern for it. This is by far my favorite tie that I have made for my boys, I have already made 9 in the past month and they actually wear them for church (and they stay all for the whole time!).

~ How to Make a Tie ~

The Ribbon Retreat has some awesome boy fabrics, I was so excited to see that they had a really good selection. You will need a fabric for the front and then just plain white fabric, and of course thread. I used the line Urban Zoology from Robert Kaufman and the Pirate Matey’s line from Riley Blake. Depending on the size of tie, you will need anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 yard.

Here are the patterns that I made, I made one for 3 to 4 years old and 5 to 6 year old. You can get them here.

***This was my first time doing a pattern and I didn’t realize that it wouldn’t be 100% size when you scanned it in. So when you print it out, don’t line the parts up at the dotted line or it will be too short, just overlap the two pieces of paper about 1/2 inch and then tape it together.***

I printed out the pattern, taped it together and then cut it out.

Then I placed the white fabric onto the front of the dinosaur fabric.

Then I pinned the pattern onto the fabric, and cut out both pieces of fabric together. I had the dinosaur fabric facing the white because that it how you will need to sew it anyway, so it saves a step.

Once the tie is all cut out, I sewed the two fabrics together at both ends. Just sew the triangle tips at the top and bottom.

I flipped the fabric right side out and then I ironed the tips.

With the dinosaur fabric facing up, I folded the tie in half.

Then I sewed along the edge of the tie, leaving the top and bottom open.

Next I turned the tie inside out by working the fabric through the hole at the top. Set the tie aside.

Now for the neck band. I took a piece of fabric and cut it 2 3/4″ by 17″ (that was for my 4 year old). I did 17 1/2” for my 6 year old and 18” for my 7 year old. Just measure the neck with a shirt on to get the length.

I folded the fabric in half (with the dinosaurs facing each other) and sewed it and then turned it inside out (the same way I did the tie) by working it through the hole at the top. Then I sewed Velcro onto the ends.

Now it’s time for the knot.

Place the tie onto the neck band, with the small end going behind and to the left. Then take the small end and fold it over the tie. Take the small end and go behind the neck band. And finally place the small end into itself, the space between where the small tie goes over the tie. Pull all of it tight. You should end with the little end in front of the knot.

Once the knot was good and tight, I moved the little end to the back of the tie.

Then I made a couple of stitches with a needle and thread, just to make sure the knot doesn’t come loose.

And that’s it!! It’s actually quite easy once you figure out how to do the knot and the pattern.

Even though I only have two sizes of patterns, you can used them to make bigger or smaller ties. For my oldest son’s, I just took the 5 to 6 year old pattern and then made it 2-3 inches longer.

Here are the three that I made for my three boys.

And here are my three boys sporting their new ties! They love getting to wear something new for church.

Thanks for having me here today!

I would love it if you followed along.

Thanks Kaysi! I absolutely love these ties! Be sure to check out Kaysi’s blog Keeping it Simple for quick and easy crafts! Learn how to make a tie with us and try out our adorable fabric selection! You’ll be sure to find something for your handsome little man. And if you have girls, you will love our selection for bows, flowers, headbands, tutus, and so much more! Have fun shopping!

7 Comments

I Love this tutorial! I had a really cute piece of scarp material and no project for it until I found this. It was super easy, even for a beginner like myself. Plus, it’s so hard to find cute projects for boys (I have 2 boys, myself), so this was perfect.
I do have one little helpful tip. If you attach a large safety pin to the large end of the tie then push it back through the tube made, it makes it easier to turn it right side out after sewing the sides.
Thanks for a super quick and easy project!

Hi Amie! Thank you so much for your comment and suggestion. What a great idea.
We are so glad you like our Tie tutorial. We have lots of other fun boy tutorials we would love for you to check out as well. Thank you again Amie! Have a wonderful day.

I wanted to say thank you for this really easy tutorial. I’ve looked it over and over and it looks so easy. I can’t wait to make them. I’ve been asked to make 2 for a wedding. This is perfect for their 4 and 8 year olds.

This pattern is okay, but the end of the tie looks very uneven. It looks like you needed to iron and forgot. It just looks so lop-sided. I suggest using a ruler/protractor before cutting & sewing for a more stable angle at the end.